Apparatus for regulating temperature in steam-heated buildings.



Patented Oct. 23, I900. A'. M. BUTZ. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING TEMPERATURE IN STEAM HEATED BUILDINGS.

(Application filed Fab. 1, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 660,209. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

A. m. BUTZ. I APPARATUS FOR REGULATING TEMPERATURE IN STEAM HEATED BUILDINGS (Application filed-Feb. 1, 1899.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT A cam.

ALBERT M. BUIZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING TEMPERATURE lN STEAM-HEATED BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forma are of Letters Patent No. 660,209, aatea October 23, 1900. Application filed February 1, 1599- Serial No- 704,073; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. BUTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Apparatus for Regulating the Temperature in Steam-Heated Buildings, of which the following,when taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, is a full and complete description, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to understand, make, and use the same.

This invention relates to that kind of apparatus intended to be placed in or adjacent to a room, chamber, hall, or other place to be heated by steam, as by a coil or radiator, and by the action of a thermostat device, forming a part of such apparatus, to maintain an even temperature through the automatic turning on and 011 of steam to the radiator or steamcoil; and one purpose of this invention is .to obviate the necessity 0tv having a central aircompressing apparatus, with pipes forming passage-ways therefrom to the several steam radiators or coils. I

A further purpose of the invention is to ob-' tain an apparatus whereby the valve controlling the admission of steam to the steam ra-' diator or coils shall be operated in'clos'ing it by the pressure of the water-supply in or adjacent to the room having the steam radiator or coils therein, such valve being opened in the ordinary way-that is, by a spring when such pressure is removed or released from the valve. I

A further object of the invention isto obtain electrically released mechanism operated when releasedby gravity for applying and directing to and for releasing or diverting from the'valve controlling the admission ofsteam to the steam radiator or coils the waterpressure actuating it; and a yet further object of the invention is to obtain'a mechanism released as described and operated as set out which will automatically break the circuit over which the current-releasing such mechanism extends.

In the drawings referred to and forming a part hereof and wherein a reference-letter applied to designate a given part is used to indicate such part'throughout the several figures of the drawings wherever the same ap pears, Figure 1 is an elevation of a valve eontrolling the admission of steam to and its dis-I charge from a radiator or steam-coil and of the apparatus embodying my in vention; Fig: 2, a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the apparatus illustrated in elevation in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 4, viewed in the direction in= dicated by the arrow, of the stop-cock controlling the direction of flow of the water by means of which the pressure required to close the steam-radiatorvalve is obtained. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line at 4 of Fig. 3 of such stop-cock viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow, and Fig. 5 is a I (to the ends I) and bwhereot' the water-supply and' water-discharge pipes are attached, as herein before stated) and the movable part E'mounted thereon.

O is the base, extending from base A to part b of stop-cock B.

ed thereon, respectively, and back into such part at the discharge end'thereof. The manner in which I obtain the diversion of water entering part b of stop-cock B therefrom and into arms F and G, respectively, is by having apertures'b b 'in part b registering with apertures e and 6 in movable part E when the receptacle on the end of the arm which is to receive water is elevated-that is, when receptacle F is elevated apertures b and e register and water flows thereinto from part b and when receptacle G is elevated the apertures 12 ande register. Apertures b and e register when receptacle H is down and apertures b and e register when receptacle I is down. 'lheidischarge of the liquid in receptacles H I is thusobtained after the weight of the liquid therein, respectively, has turned movable part E on part b that is, when receptacle I is down, as illustrated in Fig. 1, aperture registers with aperture 6 and the liquid contents of receptacle I flow therefrom through such apertures and from discharge end Z) of the stop-cock B. Thesame operation occurs with reference to the discharge of the contents of receptacle H when such receptacle is down and in the same 110- sit-ion relatively to part b that the receptacle I is illustrated as being in Fig.1.

Arm F, which may be an ordinary pipe, is attached to end 6 of movable part E by external screw-threads thereon corresponding with internal screw-threads e in such movable part, and arm G (which may also be a -pipe) is secured in end e'of movable part E by external screw-threads fitting into internal screw-threads e J is a receptacle connected toand in communication with the receptacle H, as by means of tube K, such tube beingflexible at theend thereof adjacent to the receptacle H.

L is a tube flexible in the part thereof ad jacent to the receptacle I, attached to receptacle I and to casing N of diaphragm n.

M is a receptacle in communication with (when such receptacle is used) tube Lthat is, tube L is cutand the ends are attached to such receptacle M. The tube L may be of ordinary piping excepting the part thereof adjacent to receptacle H, which is, as stated, flexible. By means of tube L any pressure obtained in receptacle I is conveyed to the upper side of the diaphragm 'n, and by interposing receptacle Min such tube water may be used in receptacle I without discharging Water onto the diaphragm 'n.

O is a valve of a steam-radiator or steamcoil used in the heating system embodying this invention.

P is the valve-rod, and Q Q are springs-hora drawings, steam may be discharged through the valve 0 (such valve and the connections thereof to the diaphragm n forming no partof this invention, no detail illustration thereof is given) into the radiator to which such valve is attached, and steam will continue to be discharged through such valve until from the actuation of the thermostat device R the releasing mechanism of the apparatus is moved to permit the weight of the liquid contained in the receptacle H to act (by gravity) and turn movable part E on part b (of stopcock B) until the relative position of receptacles H and I are changed, at which time the fluid contained in receptacle H may flow therefrom through apertures b e, (such flow being assured by the fluid contained in receptacle J, which is under the same pressure as thewater-supplyJ and water may flow into the raised receptacle I through the apertures 72 e obtaining in receptacle I and on the top of diaphragm n the pressure of the water-supply at the stop-cock B. The valve-rod P and diaphragm "n, are forced down, and steam is shut off of the steam-radiator or steam-coils.

The several parts of the apparatus will remain in the-position last above described (receptacle H being down and receptacle I being up) until thermostat device R again acts to permit the release of the holding mechanism.

I 1prefer to use an open-circuit battery to generate the current used by me in the operation of the' apparatus, and the mechanism is therefore constructed to break the circuit in addition to the breakoccurring therein by the movementof the expansible member 0 of the thermostat device R.

The releasing mechanism is lettered S and is shown in elevation in Fig. land in top plan view in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The thermostat device comprises expansible member rand electric terminals 0", 1' and T T0 the electric terminal 1' is electrically attached theelectric conductor 25 from the battery T. To terminal 1' is attached electric conductor 15?, and to the terminal r is electrically attached the electric conductor i The releasing device S comprises quadrant S, rigidly secured on movable part E of stopcock B, the electromagnet U, armature u, and terminals S 8 Terminals S S are not in electric connection with bearings u u, re spectively, of the frame of the apparatus. One end of electric conductor Fisattached to terminal S and oneend of electric conductor t 'is attached to terminal S The armature u is pivotally mounted in bearings u u, with spring 10 arranged to hold the armature retracted from the magnets U U, and the quadrant S is provided with therccesses S 8'', into which, respectively, the end a of armature u is yieldingly held by such spring a when no electric current is extending through the coils of the magnets U and the armature is retracted.

S is a projection or lug on the quadrant S, and Wu are yielding contact-pieces elect-ricgly attached, respectively, to the terminals tis an electric conductor extending from battery '1 to quadrant S, to which quadrant it is electrically attached, such conductor t having interposed therein the coils of electromagnet V. (See Fig. 2.)

The operation of the releasing mechanism is as follows: With the several movable parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 end a of armature u, engaging with recess S of quadrant S', maintains such quad rant, together with movable part E and receptacles H l, in the position thereof illustrated in said Fig. 1. While in the position thereof illustrated,water from the water-supply enters receptacle H until the pressure therein and in receptacle J is the same as such water-supply pressure. The water contained in receptacle I flows therefrom through the discharge end b of part b of stop-cock B, releasing the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm n, and springs Q Q force the diaphragm and piston P upward, opening the valve 0. As the water enters the receptacle H there is a tendency in movable part E to turn on the part b of stopcock B, so that receptacle H will fall and re ceptacle I rise into opposite relative positions to that shown in Fig. 1. End a will be drawn up when the armature u is drawn to magnets U U by an electric current extending from battery T over conductort to quadrant S, through such quadrant to contact-piece u to terminal S (terminals S and S are insulated from the frame whereon they are placed) on conductor 6 to terminal r of thermostat device R, through expansible member r to terminal '1", and from such terminal 7" back to the battery T, and an electric current will extend over the last-described circuit when the expansible member 1" of the thermostat device R is moved by variation of temperature in the room or space containing it to come in electrical contact with terminal r As soon as armature u is actuated, as last above described, the weight of the contents of the receptacle H does cause such receptacle to fall into its lower position, thereby breaking the circuit last above described by moving lug S away from electrical contact with yielding terminal ta. By the movement of movable part E in the downward motion of the receptacle H the quadrant S (being rigidly attached to moveable part E) moves therewith to bring lug S into electrical contact with yielding terminal a and such lug S being thereby moved away from electrical contactwith yielding terminal "a A new circuit, wherein the terminals n and S conductor 25*, and terminal r are elements, will be formed so soon as the expansible member 1' q is by a variation of temperature in the chamber or space wherein the thermostat device R is placed brought into electrical contact with the terminal 0*, the remaining elements of such new circuit being expansible member r, (which must be an electrical conductor,) terminal 7", and conductor t to the battery T and conductor t from the battery to quadrant S and such quadrant. Until the expansible member ris in electrical contact with the terminal W, as last above desuribechboth circuits are broken. An open-circuit battery can thus be used. So long as thereceptacle H is in its lowest position and the receptacle I in its highest position water from the water-supply may pass through apertures b e from part b of stop-cock B into the receptacle I, and water will so pass thereinto until the pressure in such receptacle I in pipe or tube L and between the diaphragm n and casingN is equal to the water-pressure, thereby continuously maintaining piston P depressed, so that steam may be discharged through valve 0 into the steam radiator or coil to which the valve is attached. When expansible member r is in electrical contact with terminal W, the armature to will be moved by magnets U U to release the end u thereof from recess S and the weight.of the water in receptacle I will move movable part E back to its initial positionthat is, into the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 1. Immediately upon the downward movement of the receptacle land the movement of part E and quadrant E thereon the lug S moves from electrical contact with the yielding terminal n thereby breaking the circuit, which is closed by the contact of expansible member 1 with terminal W, as last above described.

Future operations of the apparatus will be repetitions of the operations already described.

The functions of receptacle J are to obtain a pressure from receptacle H when such receptacle H is in its raised position, so that such pressure maybe applied from the receptacle J to the contents of receptacle H when the receptacle is in its lowest position to force the contents of the receptacle therefrom, and, further, to obtain a counter-pressure when the receptacle H is in its highest position to prevent any considerable overflow of such receptacle H and consequent running of water to waste.

As hereinbefore stated, the receptacle M, which is shown and described as communieating with pipe L, is not essential, its function being simply to arrest the passage of liquid to the diaphragm n when a short connection-pipe L is used. When the pipe L is of such length that it contains sufficient air, so that when the same is under pressure no liquid can possibly reach the diaphragm n,there is obviously no need whatever of the receptacle M unless it be desired to retain all the water used to obtain the pressure in close proximity to the source of supply thereof.

The oscillating receptacles H I and receptacles J M (when used) are all preferably placed adjacent to the water-supply, thereby reducing the liability to freeze the Water going through the apparatus to a minimum. In such case compressed air only is conveyed through the pipe L to the diaphragm it.

By the herein-described apparatus the receptacles on the rocking arms are respectively emptied of their liquid contents by the pressure obtaining in pipes K L, respectively, the oscillation of the rocking arms being obtained by the weight of the liquid in the upper re-'.

ceptacle thereof when the magnetic releasing device is operated, while in prior devices known to me, particularly the apparatus set out in Letters Patent No. 441,745, dated Decernber 2, 1890, and granted me the liquid op- ICC 4 Beans erating the damper mechanism (piston a .in cylinder d) does not pass through the rocking receptacles h 'i, and the pressure of the liquid is not employed to empty such receptacle.

Further, the herein-described apparatus, air under pressure'sufficient to operate the valve mechanism, is obtained from the rocking re- 1 ceptacle which communicates with the diaa phragm-chamher of the steam-supply valve,

and such air is conveyed through a pipe or be placed in the engine or boiler room of a steam-heatingplant, it is not adapted to be: placed (as is the herein-described apparatus) in localities in a building where the pipe or conduit is exposed to climatic conditions such as will at times freeze the liquid contents of the pipes or conduits between the rocking bars and the valve or piston moved thereby. Further, in the herein-described apparatus the magnetic releasing device is in operative I position to release the rocking receptacles h i,

respectively, when the expansible member of the thermostatic device changes after operation of such magnetic releasing device from a given contact-terminal of the thermostat device to the other contact-terminal there of without reference to the operation of the diaphragm and piston-rod thereof, while in the magnetic releasing device set out in the a patent referred to full operation of the pistonrod a, must necessarily be obtained before a second operation of the magnetic releasing device can be had.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is a 1. Oscillating receptacles,a valve controlled thereby, a latch for holding such receptacles ina determined position, a magnetic releasing device for operating said latch, a diaphragmcontrolled stearnvalve, a pipe from oneof such receptacles to above such diaphragm, a pipe from the other of such oscillating receptacles .to anadditional receptacle, and an additional receptacle; the. arrangement 'of the several parts being such that the pressure obtaining in the oscillating receptacles, when such receptacles are, respectively, in communication with the water-supply, is obtained above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, and when such oscillating receptacles, respectively, are not in communication with the water-supply, the pressure obtaining above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, is applied to force the water in such oscillating receptacles, respectively, to waste; substantially as described.

, 2. Oscillatingreceptacles,avalvecontrolled thereby, a latch for holding such receptacles in a determined position, means for yieldin gly holding the latch in engagement, a diaphragm-controlled steam-valve, a pipe from one of the oscillating receptacles to above the diaphragm, an additional receptacle, a pipe fromsuch additional receptacle to one of the oscillatin g receptacles,thearrangement of the several parts being such that the pressure obtaining in the oscillating receptacles, when such receptacles are, respectively, in communication with the water-supply, is obtained above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, and when such oscillating receptacles, respectively, are not in communication with the water-supply, the pressure obtaining above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, is applied to force the water in such oscillating receptacles, respectively, to waste; an electromagnet, an armature and aconnection between the armature and the latch, a thermostat device, electric circuits in which the coils of the electromagnet, the'thermostat de- Vice and an electric generator are placed, and means for making and breaking the circuits alternately by the change in position of the oscillating receptacles; substantially as described.

3. Oscillating receptacles,a valve controlled thereby, a latch for holding such receptacles ina determined position, means for yieldingly holding the latch in engagement,a diaphragmcontrolled steam-valve, a pipe from one of the oscillating receptacles to above the diaphragm, an additional receptacle, a pipe from such additional receptacle to one of the oscillating receptacles, the arrangement of the several parts being such thatthe pressure obtaining in the oscillating receptacles, when such receptaclesare, respectively, incommunication with the watei su pply, is obtained above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, and when such oscillating receptacles, respectively, are not in communication with the water-supply, the pressure obtaining above -thedi-aphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, is applied to force the water in such oscillating receptacles, respectively, to waste, an electric magnet, an armature and a connection between the armature and thelatch, a thermostat device, electric circuits in which the coils of the electric magnet, the thermostat device and an electric generator are placed, and means for making and breaking the circuits alternately by the change in position of the oscillating receptacles; substantially as described.

4:. Oscillating receptacles,a valve controlled thereby, a latch for holding such receptacles in a determined position, means foryieldingly holding the latch in engagement,a diaphragmcontrolled steam-valve, a pipe from one of the oscillating receptacles to above the diaphragm, a receptacle interposed in the pipe between the oscillating receptacle and the diaphragm an additional receptacle, a pipe from such additional receptacle to one of the oscillating receptacles, the arrangement 0ftheseveral parts being such that the pressure 0btaining in the oscillating receptacles, when such receptacles are, respectively, in communication with the water-supply,is obtained above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, and when such oscillating receptacles,respective1y,are notin communication with the Water-supply, the pressure obtaining above the diaphragm and in the additional receptacle, respectively, is applied to force the water in such oscillating receptacles, respectively, to waste, an electric magnet, an armature and a connection between the armature and the latch, and elec- ALBERT M. BUTZ.

In presence of GEORGE WARREN FURBEOK, CHARLES TURNER BROWN. 

